Here's to giving thanks for all our blessings: for healthy and fun kids, room to roam, animals to pet, chickens and eggs, mooing when I walk outside, wagging tails, family nearby, a great husband who puts up with my "big pets", the snow-plowing tractor, newborn baby calves, green grass, humming alpacas, the smell of hay, the crowing of the rooster, the leaves crunching under my boots, the smell of wood burning in the fireplace, the chance to don my winter jacket, great friends, busy times at work, sleeping in the camper with the kids, ice on the pond, sleeping babies and a beautiful view. And actually that isn't even close to all of them, but the ones that came to mind on a gorgeous morning.

With a cold front and snow predicted, we had a mad rush of winter prep. All the water tanks had heaters installed, all the hoses emptied and stored, and hay arranged. The lucky alpacas got to move down to the tree field with Buck, and the yaks will stay in a top pen for a bit longer before being put back on their summer pasture. We loaded up 5 yaks for a buyer out of Durango, so now we only have 9 to feed for the winter. We were more streamlined and prepared in our tasks this year, I guess we are finally getting in a groove! We also moved two of the cows and one steer to a grassy pasture to board for a few months. It is a busy time, but with winter looming it will soon limit our outdoor maintenance. Ski season cometh!